BigPatents India

A lens delivery system having a plunger, an injection body and a nozzle portion connected to the injector body, the nozzle portion having a hinged lid and a hollow body with a lens holding platform formed beneath the hinged lid. The inside of the hinged lid contains ribs that help to hold a lens stationary on the platform when the lid is closed. The cartridge has an elongated nozzle tube or tip with a bore, the bore communicating with the lens holding platform. The bottom of the bore is rounded, which causes the edges of the lens between the lens haptics to fold upwardly as the lens is pushed down the bore from the platform by the plunger. The central portion of the optic of the lens is prevented from moving upward during folding by a projection in the lid between the ribs. A removable pin fits into the lid and prevents the lens from moving down the bore of the tip during shipment and storage. The plunger and injector body contain a ratcheting mechanism that helps prevent the plunger from moving during shipment and storage. The system of the present invention allows the lens to be stored, shipped and delivered into an eye without any additional devices and without handling the lens. The folding mechanism of the present invention is also suitable for folding lenses made from a soft acrylic material as well as other materials such as silicones and hydrogels.